5 Easy Ways to Cut Your Fleet’s Fuel Cost in Half

By Cesar Yepez

March 2, 2016

Gift giving has become increasingly easy thanks to the advancement of today’s technology. It’s just a single click away and suddenly a package is perfectly transported to your doorstep a few days later.

However, that package doesn’t appear by magic; it takes a team of specialized deliverymen who drive miles upon miles to get that special present from the firm to the front door.

Sounds like magic, but for many companies, it means facing the fright of increased fleet fuel costs. The more travel, the more expense, which leads many businesses counting finances instead of enjoying the bliss of their company’s growth.

However, it’s easy to also cut fuel costs and here are the 5 simplest tips:

1. Maintain Your Vehicles Performance

First things first, and that is making sure your vehicle is functioning properly. It may not seem like much, but everything from tire pressure to air filters count towards your fuel efficiency. It’s estimated that most people either over or under inflate their tires, which can produce drag on your vehicle’s performance and ultimately waste gas. Be sure to always maintain the proper tire pressure, which can be found on the tire directly under PSI, and it’s recommended to check the pressure at least every few months for optimal performance.

Regular maintenance, as noted in your vehicle’s personal owner’s manual, will help your car or truck achieve its best fuel economy in general, and according to the Consumer Energy Center, if all Californians properly inflated and aligned their tires, the nation would save nearly 300 million gallons of gas a year.

2. Decrease Areas of Travel or Delivery

Many branches believe that the best way to optimize their franchise is to advertise and cater to cities well beyond their local boundaries. As important as “getting out there” is, it’s also important to factor in your fuel consumption when expecting a growth in delivery radius. The more miles on the road, the more gas is going to be used and money will be spent. Sometimes, the best financial option is to limit your areas of travel and delivery and stick to the hometown.

3. Get Clients to Come to You

Special deliveries are a wonderful perk, but sometimes it becomes just too disadvantageous for a franchise to constantly make extravagant runs. Though it’s not an option for everyone, perhaps a great way to decrease fuel costs is to get clients to come to you instead. For some projects and tasks, ask the client to meet you at an agreed location to save mileage. This will cut down drive time, which will save finances.

4. Decrease the Air Flow

Drag is always something on the minds of NASCAR drivers and vehicle technicians because an increase of airflow in front of the car will increase friction and thus decrease the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. However, you don’t need to deck out your haul with air resistant paints and technology to make the most of fuel efficiency. All that is needed is to manage airflow. This means to reduce the AC units and keep all windows shut.

The more streamline your car is, the more mpg it will receive because the air will not become trapped in open vents and windows. Instead, use the “flow-through ventilation” instead of flipping the air on. It will keep the car cool and also sealed tight for optimal efficiency.

5. Manage the Fuel Flow

Finally, manage the gas. There are simple ways to cut down gas consumption with a few easy performance changes. First, don’t idle. Nowadays, cars don’t need to sit with the engine running to warm up; they just need to drive, so don’t sit around with the motor roaring. Reduce your idling time, try to turn your car off as much as possible, when it is not needed for it to be on.

Secondly, coast when possible. There is not need to put your foot on the gas every second of travel because, to a certain extent, the weight of the car can propel itself forward. When going down hills, approaching traffic lights, or experiencing traffic, give your car just enough momentum to move and let gravity take care of the rest. The less peddle pushing, the less gas is being used.

This goes hand in hand with the final driving tip: don’t road rage. Despite popular belief, driving fast doesn’t save fuel at all; it actually decreases consumption because the engine is turning over faster than the wheels can go, which means its wasting gas. Be slow, steady, and follow speed limits. They are actually a good marker for fuel efficiency.

Don’t let the stress of growth keep you and your company bogged down. Instead, embrace the excitement and use these helpful hints to cut fuel consumption.

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